College Soccer: Jacks conclude homestand with loss to No. 17 Tritons

In its last home game of the season, Humboldt State struggled to string together passes in the first half and didn't get a chance on goal until the second half. The Jacks' first shot of the game proved to also be their first and only goal in a 4-1 loss to No. 17-ranked UC San Diego Sunday afternoon.

With the loss, the Jacks drop to 1-7 as they enter the second half of the season, with the remaining six contests all being played on the road. The Tritons improve to 8-1-2 with the result, grabbing their first win in three games.

Humboldt State couldn't combine offensively in the first half, often finding Tritons on the receiving end of the Jacks' passes and clears to constantly be under pressure defensively.

"Tactically speaking, we felt we needed to make some changes today," said head coach CJ Johnson. "We played a 3-5-2 because we felt we really needed more of a defensive pressence and get more numbers behind the ball, especially with their style of soccer. We knew in that formation, we weren't going to be as successful offensively. We felt that was what we needed to do to stay in the game."

In the 38th minute, HSU committed a foul right on top of the 18-yard box, giving UC San Diego a dangerous look on goal. Hayley Johnson sent the free kick to the right of the Jacks' wall and past goalkeeper Kelly Lukas, who couldn't get a full hand on the ball for the save, to put the Tritons up 1-0.

"It was an unfortunate foul we gave up in the first half," said Coach Johnson. "Nicely placed by their player to get their first goal."

Humboldt State created its best chance offensively in the first half off a corner kick three minutes before halftime. Colette Behen sent the ball into the box, but no one was able to get on the end of it as it passed through both teams. Despite working to get into the Tritons' defensive third, the Jacks couldn't get a shot off in the first half and went into the half outshot 12-0.

"At halftime, I felt we needed to continue to build confidence in the players," said Coach Johnson. "I told them, 'All it takes is just one counter, one special moment to get yourselves back in this game.' Sure enough, we went one-for-one with our shots at that moment, with 30 minutes left to play."

Hoping to start fresh with the new half, Humboldt State found its first shot of the game in the 51st minute of play. Lizzie Mitchell took the ball down the right side of the field and sent a cross into the middle of the box, picking out a well-timed run from Maddi Null. Null headed the ball back toward the right side of the goal, past goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky for the equalizer.

"Good awareness by Lizzie to see space to go up the line when she could have taken an early shot and it was a perfectly played ball," said Coach Johnson. "Maddi had a great run to distance herself from defenders. She delayed it just enough to not be at the near post where it was more crowded, so it was good awareness and good patience on the back side and perfectly placed in the back of the net. It gave us some motivation at that point in time to get us back in the game. Such a positive moment."

The goal energized HSU as the Jacks started to settle down and get back to playing their style of possession-based soccer; however, the momentum didn't last long.

In the 57th minute, Humboldt State found itself in a too similar situation as the official awarded the Tritons a free kick at the top of the box. Mitchell couldn't avoid a collision with a Triton player bending to try to flick the ball on with her head, giving Hayley Johnson another free kick in dangerous territory. Just like it had in the first half, Hayley Johnson's shot went to the far right corner of the goal, past Lukas to put UCSD up 2-1.

"I think the third goal really deflated us a bit," said Coach Johnson. "I'm not sure what our player is supposed to do when the opposing player leans down at the top of the 18 to flick a ball in and our player comes across to try to body it out. It was another unfortunate foul to give up."

Determined to not give up another goal, UCSD turned the pressure on the Lumberjack defense, even finding itself in five-on-three scenarios. HSU's defense held firm, but surrendered seven corner kicks in the second half.

Humboldt State, who has been unfortunate on its home field this year, had a bit of bad luck in the 68th minute, giving up an own goal off a corner kick.

"We need to do a better job still of having a better presence in the box and challenging for the ball," said Johnson.

Now down 1-3, the Jacks' spirits seemed to falter as time continued to wind down, but the Tritons weren't ready to pack it in and found their fourth goal in the 77th minute. Melissa Tallis sent a cross to the far post, connecting with Cassie Callahan. Callahan headed the ball back to the other post, finding a wide open Izzy Pozurama, who the Jacks thought to be offside. The unmarked Pozurama slotted the ball past Lukas to put UCSD up 4-1.

"On the fourth goal, we went to a 3-4-3 formation thinking, 'We're down, but let's try to get some goals,'" said Coach Johnson. "They countered, and unfortunately we didn't get an offside call, but what are you going to do?"

With time still left on the clock, the Jacks hoped to get one more goal before the final whistle blew. The Jacks used one- and two-touch passes to build the ball up on the left side of the field, giving Mitchell a chance to fire a shot off. Mitchell's well-struck shot just missed the left post in the 85th minute.

Mitchell had another chance a minute later, but goalkeeper Itzel Gonzalez collected the shot to pick up the Tritons' only save of the game.

Humboldt State will spend the remainder of its season on the road, something Coach Johnson and his team are bittersweet about. After having some bad luck at home, with games not going the way they had wished, the Jacks hope the road will bring new opportunities and a chance to grab some positive results.

"This has been a very difficult stretch with the teams we've had to face," said Johnson. "We've had to face all the top teams in the region, as well as nationally-ranked teams, the past three weeks. Now we get to move on and, although it's on the road, face some teams that aren't ranked. They're still going to be some challenges, it's never easy playing on the road against the teams we face, but I think these are games we can compete in."

The Jacks will get a little break against nationally-ranked opponents, first travelling to Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 12:30 p.m. in an unusual weekday game. Also unlike the typical Friday/Sunday game schedule, the Jacks will take on Cal State East Bay on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 12:30 p.m.